When Connecticut voters go to the polls in November, they will vote on calling a Constitutional Convention. Large groups are aligned for and against the bill with those in charge of the election opposed. Our personal stand for or against the bill is irrelevant. Integrity and confidence in elections is our concern.

Our points are that like all questions and referendums that vote is exempt from the post-election audit law and that those charged with running elections should not audit themselves. Questions should not be exempt from audit – they are not exempt from error and fraud. We need an independent election audit authority – audit decisions should not be made by the entity being audited.

More than two dozen groups, from organized labor to the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, began a campaign Wednesday to oppose the November ballot question on a possible constitutional convention.

During a news conference on the north steps of the Capitol, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Comptroller Nancy Wyman joined the group supporting rejection of the question…

The organization, called “Vote No: Protect Our Constitution,” said such a convention would be “risky” because it could possibly be commandeered by a variety of special interests, including groups opposed to abortion, gay rights and funding public schools, or in support of initiative and referendum.

But supporters of the ballot question said in reaction to the news conference that the current status quo is being defended by special interests including members of the “Vote No” coalition.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Treasurer Denise Nappier, both Democrats, also oppose the constitutional convention, according to their offices. Calls were left seeking comment from Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele.